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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396703
Research Project: Improving the Production and Processing of Western and Long-Staple Cotton and Companion Crops to Enhance Quality, Value, and Sustainability

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Blending and densification: Significance and quality

Author
item FRODESON, STEFAN - Karlstad University
item Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2022
Publication Date: 6/29/2023
Citation: Frodeson, S., Tumuluru, J. 2023. Blending and densification: Significance and quality. In: Tumuluru, J.S. editor. Densification Impact on Raw, Chemically and Thermally Pretreated Biomass. First Edition. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. p. 73-107. https://doi.org/10.1142/9781800613799_0004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/9781800613799_0004

Interpretive Summary: The blending of biomass involves mixing two or more different biomasses. This will help to increase the availability of biomass for biofuels application. Blending two or more biomasses creates challenges in flow behavior in the densification systems. The variability in particle sizes of the different biomasses creates densified products with different microstructure and porosity. This chapter highlights how various biomasses blending improve feedstock availability and impacts the quality of the densified products produced in terms of physical properties.

Technical Abstract: Future pellet plants will need to be more flexible regarding the need to vary the feedstock species and increase the areas for biomass. By blending biomass species, pellets can be a solution that meets new desirable specifications for different conversion pathways, such as biochemical, thermochemical, and biopower. In this chapter, the authors address opportunities for blending and densification to homogenize the chemical composition of biomaterials and improve the potential for other processing and transformation methods. The advantages of blending biomasses are many: increasing the potential supply of biomass, creating new markets, reducing raw material costs, and improving biomass flow and pelletizing properties. Important densification parameters to keep in mind are highlighted, and five different studies are summarized; these include investigations from a single pellet press study to briquette applications. Some conclusions are that blending woody and herbaceous biomasses yields products with uniform product quality in terms of physical properties and chemical composition. Furthermore, blending pine and switchgrass yields a compressed product with higher density and durability while reducing energy consumption.